MINDLESS vandals have struck again in Cheadle, this time ripping up a whole avenue of trees by their roots.

At least 10 trees have been ruined in the grounds of Abney Hall in a senseless act of destruction.

Margaret Bryant of New Hey Road in Cheadle was first to spot the damage. She said: "I saw it when we were out walking the dog. It has really made me angry because they were pretty well grown and they were starting to show their buds after the winter. They were about 10ft high.

"It must be somebody who was very strong because I couldn't have pulled them up on my own."

It is not the first time that trees at Abney Hall and in the surrounding area have been ruined by pointless vandalism.

"It's so sad because they are trying desperately to get an avenue of trees to grow there and they keep getting ripped out," said Margaret. "These ones had been there quite a while so we thought they were safe now.

"Cheadle used to be a lovely place to live but I won't go out at night near throwing-out time anymore.

"Abney Hall is a lovely little place and they are just destroying it, they really are."